Top Maldives resort launches immersive fine dining voyage inspired by the Age of Discovery
A new private dining experience at NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort blends Spanish heritage, Maldivian flavours and maritime storytelling in the heart of the Baa Atoll.
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NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort has unveiled an ambitious new fine dining concept that transforms dinner into a journey through history.
Called Caravela, the immersive culinary experience draws inspiration from the great maritime expeditions of the 14th to 17th centuries, blending Spanish culinary traditions with Maldivian ingredients into a multisensory tasting menu centred on exploration, trade, and cultural exchange.
Located within the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, the newly renovated resort has designed the experience for just 12 guests per evening, centred on a communal dining table that encourages connection and shared discovery.
The inaugural five-course menu, titled The Atlantic Voyage of 1487, traces the route of early explorers sailing from Iberia along the African coast in search of a sea passage to India.
The concept was developed under the direction of resort manager and Master Sommelier Melroy Fernandes, who worked alongside the culinary team to create a storytelling-led experience inspired by the Age of Discovery. Fernandes has also curated the accompanying wine pairings designed to complement each stage of the culinary journey.
Dishes include crispy king crab fritters with ikura and lime-yuzu vinaigrette, torched Maldivian tuna loin with escabeche and Moroccan spices, and a 12-hour sous vide pork belly glazed with smoky chilli and Spanish chorizo jus.
Dessert references Portuguese navigation history with an olive oil cake featuring port wine and blood orange gel encased within a delicate sugar sphere inspired by the historic Armillary Sphere.
Future menus are already planned, including voyages themed around the Pacific and Indian oceans, with the concept designed to evolve over time through different flavour maps and historical narratives.
The experience was developed under the direction of resort manager and Master Sommelier Melroy Fernandes alongside the resort’s culinary team, with curated wine pairings accompanying each course.
“Caravela offers a journey of a different kind, one that connects history, culture and cuisine in a truly immersive way,” Fernandes said.
The Atlantic Voyage tasting menu with wine pairings is priced at USD190++ per guest and available by reservation only.
The resort is positioned as a private island retreat focused on nature, tranquillity and immersive experiences. The resort features 105 renovated beach and overwater villas surrounded by turquoise waters, coral reefs and lush tropical greenery.
Beyond its dining offerings, the resort features a collection of restaurants, bars, and destination-led experiences, from all-day dining and Japanese-inspired cuisine to sunset cocktails and private beachfront dinners.
The property also offers close access to Hanifaru Bay, one of the Maldives’ most celebrated marine sanctuaries, known for seasonal gatherings of manta rays and whale sharks.
Part of the global NH Collection portfolio under Minor Hotels, the resort reflects the growing shift in luxury travel towards more experience-driven stays, where gastronomy, storytelling, and connection to place are becoming just as important as overwater villas and white-sand beaches.
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Avani will make its New Zealand debut in September with a lakefront hotel in Queenstown, adding a contemporary lifestyle option to one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most competitive luxury resort markets.
Avani Queenstown is being positioned as the brand’s New Zealand flagship. Its Lake Wakatipu setting gives guests direct access to the scenery that drives the destination while keeping the restaurants, bars and adventure operators of central Queenstown close at hand.
The timing is significant for Australian travellers. A September opening arrives as the ski season gives way to spring hiking, cycling and wine touring, allowing the hotel to establish itself before the peak summer period.
Queenstown’s appeal has broadened beyond adrenaline tourism. Private aviation, high-end lodges, destination dining, golf and Central Otago pinot noir now attract travellers who want both wilderness and polished service. A lifestyle hotel must bridge those worlds without becoming interchangeable with an urban property.
The Avani brand generally emphasises informal public spaces, contemporary design, social dining and wellness rather than traditional grand-hotel ceremony. In Queenstown, the key test will be whether those elements remain connected to the lake, mountains and local makers.
Travellers considering an early stay should ask which restaurants and facilities will be operating from opening day, whether construction or commissioning work remains, and how lake-view room categories differ. Opening dates can move, so flexible flights and cancellation terms are sensible.
Season also changes the experience dramatically. Winter brings ski traffic, cold-weather logistics and premium weekend rates; spring and autumn offer quieter trails and wineries; summer brings long daylight hours but also Queenstown’s busiest visitor period.
For Avani, the property establishes a base in a globally recognised destination within easy reach of Australia. For Queenstown, it adds another internationally branded hotel at a time when discerning visitors increasingly expect a strong sense of place rather than luxury by checklist.
Fact box
– Hotel: Avani Queenstown
– Location: Lake Wakatipu waterfront, Queenstown, New Zealand
– Opening: Scheduled for September 2026
– Operator: Minor Hotels
– Significance: Avani’s Queenstown debut and New Zealand flagship
– Best for: Short luxury breaks, skiing, hiking, wine touring and lake experiences
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